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    Home » Recipes » How to recipes

    How to Freeze Spinach For Smoothies

    Published: Apr 20, 2023 · Modified: May 18, 2023 by Nataliia

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Follow our easy step-by-step directions on how to freeze spinach for smoothies. Freezing spinach is the best way to keep this nutritious leafy vegetable on hand at all times without worrying it may go bad.

    Frozen rectangular spinach cubes on a white plate.
    Jump to:
    • Why you should freeze spinach for smoothies
    • Ways to use frozen spinach
    • What you will need
    • Step-by-step directions
    • Tip and tricks
    • How long you can store spinach in the freezer
    • Frequently asked questions
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why you should freeze spinach for smoothies

    Once opened, the spinach goes bad very quickly. Within 2 days the leaves will not be as fresh and may start getting slimy. Recently, I started freezing fresh spinach to avoid food waste.

    The day I open the bag of fresh spinach to make a smoothie, salad, or to add to chicken meatballs, I freeze the rest of the bag right away. 

    Because I already know that tomorrow the leaves might start going bad and more likely I will forget to use them all up.

    Similar to frozen fresh papaya, I like to use frozen spinach to make delicious smoothies for the whole family. It blends well with the sweet fruits and you cannot even taste it.

    You can also use frozen spinach to make soups, eggs, and other recipes that require cooked spinach.

    Ways to use frozen spinach

    Use frozen spinach cubes to make our spinach and pineapple smoothie or spinach papaya smoothie.

    Besides delicious green smoothies, you can incorporate frozen spinach into soups, omelettes, pasta, and meat dishes. 

    The best part, you do not even need to thaw it beforehand. Toss it into a blender with the rest of the ingredients or add it directly to the simmering soup or sauce.

    Frozen spinach is not good to use in salads, sandwiches, or for garnishing meals.

    What you will need

    You will need only a few ingredients and some simple kitchen equipment. 

    Ingredients

    Fresh spinach: you can use baby spinach leaves or regular spinach leaves. Make sure they are fresh and do not show signs of being soiled. 

    Liquid: you will need liquid if you are making spinach frozen cubes. I like to use water, in case I will need to use it for soups or other recipes. You can also use coconut or almond milk. 

    Equipment

    Salad spinner: even if the packaging states the spinach has been washed, I still wash it one more time as sometimes there might be still dirt or even insects. If you do not have a salad spinner, use a large bowl.

    Blender: if you are making the cubes, you will need the blender to puree the leaves. 

    Ice cube trays: they are the best to freeze blended spinach. Make sure to use BPA-free containers.

    Freezer bags: If you plan to freeze whole leaves, you will need some freezer-safe bags or containers. 

    Drinking straw: it is optional, but great for removing the access air from the bag before freezing.

    Step-by-step directions

    Below, you can find step-by-step directions on how to freeze spinach using two methods. Both methods are great, but I find ice cubes are more convenient for smoothies and easier to store in the freezer.

    Method 1 (ice cubes)

    Add the spinach to the salad spinner bowl and feel it with cold water. Swirl them around with your hands to remove any dirt.

    Lift the colander basket and dump the water. You can repeat the process couple of more times if using the spinach from the garden.

    Packaged one is usually pre-washed, but I still rinse it at least one time. Place the basket back into the salad spinner, close the lid, and spin it to dry. 

    If you do not have a spinner, use a large bowl to wash the leaves. 

    Spinach leaves in a salad spinner bowl filled with water.

    In a blender container, add washed spinach leaves and about ½ cup of water.

    Water being added to the blender filled with spinach leaves.

    Blend it on high until the leaves are pureed. You may need to add more water.

    Blended spinach and water in a blender container.

    Pour pureed spinach into the ice cubes. Make sure to leave some space and not overfill it. 

    Red ice cube tray filled with pureed greens .

    Place the ice tray in the freezer and let it freeze for about 3 hours or until solid. Now, you can remove the frozen spinach cubes and place them in a zip-lock bag. I usually use a permanent marker to place a date on the bag.

    Red ice cube tray filled with frozen pureed greens .

    Method 2 (whole spinach leaves)

    Use a salad spinner or a large bowl to wash the spinach leaves. Dry it in the spinner and then lay the leaves to air dry on paper towels if you freeze them whole leaves. 

    Place the whole leaves in freezer-safe bags or containers. I usually portion it, using smaller bags.

    Whole spinach leaves in a 3 small ziploc bags.

    You can use a drinking straw to suck out as much air as possible from the bags.

    A food storage bag with spinach and a drinking straw inserted into the opening to create a vacuum seal.

    Mark each bag with the date you freeze it. Place the bag in the freezer until ready to use.

    Tip and tricks

    • Wash the spinach before freezing even if it states on the packaging that it has been washed.
    • Freeze only fresh, crisp, and bright leaves. Freeze it right after purchasing or harvesting.
    • If freezing the spinach leaves whole (without blending), make sure to dry the leaves well.
    • Use a drinking straw to remove as much air as possible from the bag to prevent the freezer burn.
    • Label the bag or a container with the date and the content. 

    How long you can store spinach in the freezer

    Frozen spinach can last in the freezer for between 6-12 months if stored properly. For the best quality, use it within 6 months. It is also safe to refreeze the leftover smoothie made with frozen spinach again. 

    To avoid a freezer burn, make sure to remove as much air as possible from the freezer bags and do not keep it near the freezer door to avoid exposure to warm air.

    Frequently asked questions

    How to tell if spinach is not good anymore?

    It is easy to tell if the spinach is not good anymore by looking at and smelling it. Bad spinach has wilted, slimy leaves and it smells rather sour. If you are unsure if your spinach is still good, it is better to discard it.

    Can you refreeze thawed spinach?

    It is not recommended as the quality might be not the same, but you can safely refreeze thawed spinach if it has been stored in the fridge for no longer than 2 days.

    Do I need to blanch the spinach before freezing it?

    Although blanching the spinach can preserve its bright green color, it is not necessary to blanch spinach before freezing.

    📖 Recipe

    Frozen rectangular spinach cubes on a white plate.

    How to Freeze Spinach For Smoothies

    Nataliia
    Follow our easy-step-by-step directions on how to freeze spinach for smoothies. Freezing spinach is the best way to keep this nutritious leafy vegetable on hand at all times without worrying it may go bad.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Breakfast, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 6 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Blender
    • 1 ice cube tray
    • 3 freezer safe food storage bags
    • 1 drinking straw, for vacuum seal

    Ingredients
      

    Ice cubes method

    • 4 cups fresh spinach leaves, washed and dried
    • ½-1 cup water or almond milk

    Whole leaves method

    • 4 cups fresh spinach leaves, washed and dried well

    Instructions
     

    Ice cubes method

    • Add spinach and water to the blender. Blend on high until the leaves are pureed. You can add more water if needed.
    • Pour the pureed spinach into the ice cube tray and freeze for about 3 hours or overnight.

    Whole leaves method

    • Place washed and dried whole spinach leaves into the freezer safe food bags. Seal it leaving a small opening. Insert the straw into the small opening and suck out as much air as possible, creating a vacuum seal.
    • Mark the bags with the date and freeze until ready to use.

    Notes

    • I like to blend the spinach with water, in case I will be adding it to soups or other savory recipes.
    • You do not need to blanch spinach before freezing, but blanching can preserve bright color.
    • No need to thaw frozen spinach, simply add few cubes to the blender with the rest of smoothie ingredients.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cupCalories: 6kcalCarbohydrates: 1.09gProtein: 0.86gFiber: 0.66gSugar: 0.13g
    Keyword freeze spinach
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    A young woman image from heat to the waist. She has long brown hair and wearing a leather jacket over a dark blue t-shirt. She is smiling and looking at the lens of camera.

    I'm Nataliia. While my passion lies in showcasing hearty traditional Ukrainian recipes, I also invite you to explore the culinary gems from other European countries I had a chance to visit or live in.

    More about Nataliia →

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